Apple has just lifted the curtains off its latest iPad Air. It’s thinner, lighter, and more powerful than its predecessor and it’s undoubtedly the best iPad yet, but that’s not surprising anyone. What’s more interesting besides the slate itself is how it compares to the competition.

We are talking the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) and the ASUS Transformer Pad TF701T – the most potent Android tablets available to date. Those beasts both sport 10.1″ displays of 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution.

The iPad Air counters with its weight of just 469 grams, which is downright stunning achievement for an an all aluminum slate. The thinner bezels and straightened up edges make it look even prettier than before, and that’s something its Android rivals lack. Even the ASUS Transformer Pad with its aluminum casing can’t hold a handle to Apple’s design.

Anyhow, here’s the full three-horse race organized in a neat table for your perusal.

The large-size tablet spectrum has never been so saturated and the competition so fierce. On the Android side we have one of the best multitasking tablets sporting top notch productivity features. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) is equipped with the latest S Pen stylus, while the ASUS Transformer Pad TF701T sports a Mobile dock with an extra battery and a full-size QWERTY keyboard. Still, if you only consider the actual tablets and not their hardware add-ons, the iPad Air seems to be in pole position for retaining the crown. So we guess the question is do you really need a dock or an S Pen?